Control apparatus for pivotal-sliding roof panel assembly

ABSTRACT

A control apparatus for a pivotal/sliding roof panel powered by a reversible electric drive motor operative to move a roof panel from a closed position in a roof opening in a vehicle to either of a venting or an open position. The control apparatus includes a first, operable switch which connects electrical power in one of two opposite polarities to the electric drive motor. A sensor detects when the roof panel is in the closed position. A control device, energizable by the activation of the first switch and the output of the sensor when the roof panel reaches the closed position from either of the venting or open positions, switches its output to disconnect the drive motor from the source of electric power. A switchable member, responsive to the sequential de-activation and re-activation of the first switch, momentarily energizes the control device to connect the drive motor to the source of electrical power in order to initially move the roof panel from the closed position to either of the venting or open positions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates, in general, to vehicle roof structures and, morespecifically, to control apparatus for controlling the movement of amovable roof panel between a closed and a pivoted vent position andbetween a closed and a lowered, retracted or open position.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Vehicles having a movable, sliding roof panel are well known. Such roofpanels are movable between a closed position in which the roof panelsealingly closes an opening in the roof vehicle and an open position inwhich the roof panel is retracted beneath the vehicle roof structure toopen the vehicle interior. It is also known to provide such movable roofpanels with the capability to be pivoted about a front edge so as to bepartially raised to a flip-up venting position in which the rear edge ofthe roof panel is raised a short distance above the stationary roof ofthe vehicle.

A lifter mechanism attached to guide shoes slidingly disposed in guiderails mounted in the vehicle roof structure effects movement of the roofpanel between the closed, venting and retracted positions. Anelectrically powered drive assembly including a reversible electricdrive motor causes bi-directional translation of thrust transmittingdrive cables attached to the guide shoes for moving the guide shoes andlifter mechanism fore and aft along the guide rails. At appropriatepoints during such movement, the lifter mechanism operates to raise therear edge of the roof panel from the closed to the vent position or tolower the rear edge of the roof panel such that it can be retractedunder the stationary roof structure of the vehicle.

Electrical controls including vehicle operator control push buttons anda roof panel position indicator switch have been employed to energizethe drive motor to move the roof panel in the desired direction and toinsure a complete stop of the roof panel in the fully closed position.In such pivotal-sliding roof panel assemblies, it is essential that theroof panel be brought into a fully closed position in order tocompletely seal the roof opening. Thus, previously devised controlcircuits for pivotal-sliding roof panel assemblies have been constructedto automatically de-energize the electric drive motor when the roofpanel reaches the fully closed position from either of the vent or theopen positions.

It has also been known to provide two operator control push buttons forfore/aft movement of the roof panel in which continued movement of theguide shoes in the forward direction after the roof panel has reached aclosed position causes the lifter mechanism to raise the rear edge ofthe roof panel upward to the venting position. The control circuit insuch a roof panel assembly is provided with a time delay after the roofpanel has reached the fully closed position in order to providesufficient time for the operator to release the push buttons withoutcausing additional undesired movement of the roof panel out of the fullyclosed position.

Such previously devised control circuits for pivotal-sliding roof panelsassemblies, while effective in precisely controlling movement of theroof panel, either require two sets of control push buttons for movingthe roof panel from the closed to the vent position and from the closedto the open position or a single set of push buttons and timer circuitryto insure that the roof panel is brought to a complete stop in the fullyclosed position. Such additional push buttons and/or timer circuitryundesirably adds to the expense of the roof panel assembly andintroduces additional components into the control circuitry which couldadversely effect the reliability of the roof panel assembly.

Thus, it would be desirable to provide a control apparatus for apivotal/sliding roof panel assembly which functions to precisely controlthe movement of the roof panel between a closed position and either of avent or open position. It would also be desirable to provide a controlapparatus for a pivotal/sliding roof panel assembly which is constructedwith a minimal number of components for a reduced manufacturing costsand increased reliability. Finally, it will be desirable to provide acontrol apparatus for a pivotal/sliding roof panel assembly whicheffects movement of the roof panel with only two, bi-directionaloperator switches or push buttons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is disclosed herein a unique control apparatus for apivotal/sliding roof panel assembly which is powered by a reversibleelectric drive motor for moving a roof panel between closed, vent andopen positions in a opening formed in a roof of a vehicle. The controlapparatus includes a first manually operable switch means which isadapted to be connected to a source of electrical power and functions toconnect electrical power in first and second opposite polarities to theelectric drive motor. A sensor means is provided for sensing when theroof panel is in the fully closed position in the roof opening of thevehicle.

The control apparatus further includes means responsive to the sensormeans, for disconnecting the drive motor from the source of electricalpower when the roof panel reaches the closed position from either of thevent or open positions. Finally, means are provided which are responsiveto the sequential de-activation and re-activation of the first switchmeans for momentarily connecting the drive motor to the source ofelectrical power in order to initially cause the roof panel to move fromthe closed position to either of the vent or open positions.

In a preferred embodiment, the means for disconnecting the drive motorfrom the source of electrical power when the roof panel reaches theclosed position includes a switchable contact controlled by the sensormeans which switches between two distinct states when the roof panelreaches the closed position and a control means, such as an electricalrelay, which is responsive to the activation of the first switch meansand one state of the sensor means output. The control means provides anoutput which is switchable between a first state corresponding to theroof panel being in the closed position and a second state correspondingto the roof panel being away from the closed position. The control meansoutput is connected between the electrical drive motor and the source ofelectrical power so as to disconnect the drive motor from the source ofelectrical power when the roof panel reaches the closed position.Further, the second state of the control means output is connectedacross the drive motor so as to short out the drive motor when the roofpanel reaches the closed positon in order to instantaneously brake thedrive motor to a complete stop and thereby prevent coasting orundesirable additional movement of the roof panel from the closedposition.

Finally, the means for momentarily re-connecting the drive motor to thesource of electrical power so as to move the roof panel from the closedposition includes a switch means which is energizeable by the sequentialde-activation and re-activation of the first switch means and whichincludes an output which switches from an open to a closed state. Theoutput of the switch means is connected in parallel with the output ofthe sensor means so as to momentarily energize the control relay andthereby momentarily connect the drive motor to the source of electricalpower for initially moving the roof panel from the closed position. Atimer means is provided for de-energizing the switch means apre-determined amount of time after the switch means has been energized.At this time, the sensor means output will have switched back to theclosed position to maintain the control relay in the energized state soas to continually energize the drive motor for further movement of theroof panel in the desired direction.

The control apparatus of the present invention is uniquely constructedto instantaneously deenergize the drive motor when the roof panelreaches a closed position so as to prevent further, undesirable movementof the roof panel beyond the closed position. Further, the controlapparatus is constructed with a circuit for momentarily re-energizingthe drive motor in order to move the roof panel from the closed positionwhich enables a single pair of operator controlled forward and reversedirection switches or push buttons to be employed to move the roof panelbetween the closed, vent and open positions. This simplifies theconstruction of the control apparatus, reduces manufacturing costs andimproves reliability due to the minimal number of components required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The various features, advantages and other uses of the present inventionwill become more apparent by referring to the following detaileddescription and drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial, perspective view of a vehicle having apivotal-sliding roof panel assembly mounted therein which includes alifter apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the housing of the roof panelapparatus;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view, generally taken along 3--3 in FIG. 1,showing the construction of the lifter apparatus of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lifter apparatus of the presentinvention depicted in the lowered position;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view, generally taken along line 5--5 inFIG. 3, showing the position of the components of the lifter apparatuswhen the roof panel is in the closed position;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view, similar to that depicted in FIG. 5,but showing the position of the components of the lifter apparatus whenthe roof panel is in the vent position;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view, generally taken along line 7--7 inFIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the roof panel position sensor; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the control apparatus used to controlmovement of the roof panel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Throughout the following description and drawing, identical referencenumbers are used to refer to the same component shown in multiplefigures of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing, and to FIG. 1 in particular, there isillustrated a pivotal-sliding roof panel assembly 10 which is adapted tobe mounted on the roof of a vehicle 12. The vehicle 12 includes astationary roof structure 14 having an opening 16 formed therein.Preferably, the opening 16 has a rectangular configuration and issituated over the front seat of the vehicle 12. The roof opening 16 isopened and closed by a movable roof panel 22 which slides between closedand open positions as well as pivoting about a front edge to a flip-up,vent position.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the pivotal-sliding roof panel assembly 10includes a rectangularly shaped roof panel 22 which is preferably formedof a transparent glass. The roof panel 22 has approximately the sameshape as the roof opening 16 so as to completely close the opening 16when the roof panel 22 is moved to the fully closed position. A casingor gasket 24 formed of a plastic material, such as a polyvinyl chloride,is molded around the peripheral edge of the roof panel 22.

The casing 24 is formed with an upper lip 26 which is in registry withthe peripheral edge of the upper surface of the roof panel 22 and adownwardly extending flange portion 28 which depends from the upper lip26 along the side of the roof panel 22 and is in registry with thebottom surface of the roof panel 22. Suitable attachment members, whichwill be described in greater detail hereafter, are integrally moldedbetween the casing 24 and the roof panel 22 to provide a means formounting the roof panel 22 on the vehicle 12.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is depicted a frame or housing assembly40 which is adapted to be mounted to the interior of the stationary roofstructure 14 of the vehicle 12. The frame assembly 40 includes anintegral formed, substantially rectangular housing 42. The housing 42includes an aperture 44 which is configured to the approximate shape ofthe roof opening 16 and a planar, solid rear section 46.

Preferably, the housing 42 is formed as an integral unit from a stamped,lightweight material, such as fiberglass sheet molding compound (CSMC).Other materials, such as nylon or polypropylene based compounds, havingthe requisite high strength and lightweight properties, may also be usedto form the housing 42.

The housing 42 is integrally formed with mounting brackets, drainopenings and stiffening ribs. The housing 42 also includes opposed sideflanges 48 which extend longitudinally along the sides of the housing42. An intermediate, upwardly extending flange 50 is formed on each sideflange 48 of the housing 42 and divides the flange 48 into an innerportion which serves as a base for the guide rails, to be described ingreater detail hereafter, and an outer channel or drain 52. Each of theside drain troughs 52 communicates with like formed drain troughssituated along the front and rear edges of the housing 42. The cornersof the housing 42 are formed with hollow conduits 54 which are adaptedto be connected to suitable conduits or tubes which extend through thebody of the vehicle 12 to form means for diverting water collected inthe drain troughs of the housing 42 away from the roof panel assembly10.

The housing 42 also includes front and rear mounting pads 56 and 58,respectively. The mounting pads 56 and 58 serve as a means for mountingthe drive means, described hereafter, on the housing 42. This enablesthe drive means to be selectively mounted on either of the front or rearedges of the housing 42 depending upon the particular vehicleconstruction.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the housing 42 is adapted to be mounted to apanel opening reinforcement 60 which is of substantially rectangularconfiguration. The panel opening reinforcement 60 is formed of ametallic material, such as steel, and is secured to the interiorstationary roof structure 14 of the vehicle 12 by suitable means, suchas by welding. A resilient padding member 62 is interposed between theouter edges of the housing 42 and the panel opening reinforcement 60.The housing 42 is then secured by conventional fasteners to the panelopening reinforcement 60 so as to mount the housing 42 to the stationaryroof structure 14 of the vehicle 12.

Drive means 70 are provided for moving the roof panel 22 between openand closed positions as well as between the closed and vent positions.As is conventional, the drive means 70 includes a reversible, electric,drive motor 72 which has an output shaft connected to an output gearassembly mounted on either of the front or rear mounting pads 56 and 58such that the bevel gear extends downwards through an aperture in themounting pads 56 and 58.

The roof panel 22 is driven by the drive motor 72 and gear assembly viathrust transmitting drive cables 74 and 76 which have one end secured torear guide shoes, described hereafter. The drive cables 74 and 76 have ahelically wound outer surface adpated to engage the bevel gear of thedrive means 70. As the bevel gear rotates, the cables 74 and 76 arelinearily moved resulting in movement of the roof panel 22 between itsopen and closed positions. A guide block 78 is mounted on the bottomsides of each of the front and rear mounting pads 56 and 58 and includesa pair of longitudinally-extending slots therein which are adapted toslidingly receive the thrust transmitting drive cables 74 and 76. Aperpendicularly oriented bore extends through the guide block 78centrally between the longitudinally extending slots and receives thebevel gear therein such that the bevel gear engages the sides of thedrive cables 74 and 76 to cause translation thereof.

In a rear mounted drive motor configuration, such as that depicted inFIG. 2, an idler cable 80 is attached at one end to one of the frontguide shoes of the roof panel assembly 10. The other end of the idlercable 80 enters the housing of a sensor means 82 and engages an actuatordisposed therein, as described in greater detail hereafter.

As shown in FIGS. 2-7, a pair of elongated guide tracks or rails 90 and92 are mounted on the inwardly extending side flanges 48 of the housing42 and extend in the sliding direction of the movable roof panel 22. Theguide rails 90 and 92 are identically constructed and include a base 94,upwardly extending spaced side walls 96 and 98 and inwardly extendingflanges 100 and 102. The guide rails 90 and 92 have a channularconfiguration and are adpated to slidingly receive the guide shoesconnected to the movable roof panel 22. The juncture between the base 94and one of the side walls, such as side wall 98, of each guide rail 90and 92 is formed with a circular recess 104.

As is conventional, the roof panel assembly 10 is provided with frontand rear pairs of guide shoes which control the fore and aft slidingmovement of the roof panel 22. The front guide shoes, not shown,comprise pivotal links which are connected on opposed sides of the roofpanel 22 adjacent the front edge thereof. The front guide shoes enablethe roof panel 22 to be pivoted such that the rear edge of the roofpanel 22 can be lowered and slid rearward underneath the stationary roofstructure 14 of the vehicle 12, raised to a closed position wherein theroof panel 22 is substantially in registry with the edges of the roofopening 16 and pivoted about the front edge to a partially raised, ventposition.

As shown in FIGS. 4-7, each of the identical rear guide shoes 110 areformed with a planar base 112 having outwardly extending side flanges114 and 116. One of the side flanges 114 has a substantially squareconfiguration and is adapted to ride between the base 94 and the upperflange 100 of the guide rail. The opposed side flange 116 has a circularcross section which slides within the circular recess 104 in the guiderail and is formed with a hollow bore 118 extending therethrough whichis adapted to securely receive one of the thrust transmitting drivecables 74 or 76. In this manner, translation of the drive cables 74 and76 causes movement of each of the rear guide shoes 110 longitudinallywithin the guide rails 90 and 92.

Each of the rear guide shoes 110 further includes a centrally located,upwardly extending flange 120 having first and second raised bosses 122and 124, respectively, formed at opposite ends thereof.

According to the teachings of the present invention, a lifter apparatus,denoted in general by reference number 130 in FIG. 4, is provided forraising the roof panel 22 between lowered, closed and vent positions.The lifter apparatus 130 includes a link 132, a cam or wedge block 170,and a panel attachment member 150.

The link 132 is in the form of an elongated member having spaced,laterally offset, first and second ends 134 and 138, respectively. Thefirst end 134 of the link 132 is pivotally connected to the rear guideshoe 110 by means of a pivot pin 136 which extends through aligned boresformed in the boss 124 of the rear guide shoe 110 and the first end 134of the link 132. The second end 138 of the link 132 is thus disposed forpivotal movement about the first end 134.

A slider member 140 is attached to the second end 138 of the link 132.The slider member 140 comprises an elongated shaft having a firstreduced diameter portion 142 and an outer enlarged head 144.

The panel attachment member 150 is in the form of a bracket having aplanar upper surface 152. The outermost end 154 of the panel attachmentmember 150 is bent inward and spaced above the planar top surface 152.The opposed, spaced surfaces of the outermost end 154 and the planar topsurface 152 of the panel attachment member 150 are adapted to engage theedges of the top and bottom surfaces of the roof panel 22. Preferably,the outermost edge portions of the panel attachment member 150 aremounted on the roof panel 22 by integrally molding the outermost edgesof the panel attachment member 150 within the casing or gasket 24, asshown in FIG. 3.

The panel attachment member 150 further includes a depending flangeportion 156 having an aperture 158 formed therein. Preferably, theaperture 158 is in the form of an elongated slot having a first smallerwidth section 160 and and a larger width outer section 162. The firstand second portions 160 and 162 of the aperture 158 correspond in sizeto the first and second portions 142 and 144, respectively, of theslider member 140 attached to the second end 138 of the link 132. Theaperture 158 slidingly receives the slider member 140 therein such theslider member 140 is slidable along the length of the aperture 158during movement of the lifter apparatus 130 of the present invention, aswill be described in greater detail hereafter. The depending flangeportion 156 of the panel attachment member 150 is further provided witha first cam surface 164, adjacent one end thereof. The cam surface 164has a planar, vertically extending, inclined form.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the lifter apparatus 130 includes a cam orwedge block 170. The cam block 170 has a generally cubical configurationand is formed with a cam surface 172 which is shaped complimentary tothe cam surface 164 formed on the panel attachment member 150. Thus, thecam surface 172 on the cam block 170 has a planar, vertically extending,inclined form.

The cam block 170 is mounted on the first boss 122 on the rear guideshoe 110. According to a preferred embodiment, the cam block 170 isadjustably mounted in a vertical direction to the rear guide shoe 110 soas to enable the vertical position of the roof panel 22 to be adjustedto ensure a fully closed, water and air tight seal between the roofpanel 22 and the peripheral edges of the roof opening 16 when the roofpanel 22 is in the closed position.

A vertically extending, elongated slot 174 is formed in the first boss122 on the rear guide shoe 110 and has a first enlarged width section176 and a second, reduced width section 178. A plurality of serrations180 are formed on the vertically extending sides of the reduced widthsection 178 of the slot 174 and correspond to serrations formed in avertical slot on the cam block 170. In this manner, the cam block 170may be adjusted vertically to align the serrations thereon with selectedserrations in the slot 174 on the first boss 122 so as to vary thevertical position of the cam block 170 with respect to the rear guideshoe 110. A suitable fastening means 182, such as a shoulder screw, isinserted through the aligned slots in the first boss 122 and the camblock 170 to securely mount the cam block 170 to the rear guide shoe 110in the desired vertical position.

In describing the operation of the lifter mechanism 130 of the presentinvention in moving the roof panel 22 between lowered, closed and ventpositions, it will be assumed that the lifer mechanism 130 is initiallydisposed in the position depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 which corresponds tothe lowered position of the roof panel 22 in which the roof panel 22 isdisposed beneath the stationary roof structure 14 of the vehicle 12.

When the drive means 70 has been energized to move the roof panel 22from the open to the closed positions, the thrust transmitting drivecables 74 and 76 will push the rear guide shoes 110 forward along theguide tracks 90 and 92. As the link 132 is in a substantially horizontalorientation, with the pivot pin 136 and the slider 140 aligned along thesame horizontal plane and the complimentary cam surfaces 164 and 172 ofthe panel attachment member 150 and the cam block 170, respectively, arein abutting relationship, the entire roof panel 22 will be slid towardsthe front of the vehicle 12 upon forward movement of the rear guideshoes 110 until the front guide shoes engage stops mounted on thehousing 42 not shown, which terminate further forward movement of theroof panel 22. At this point, the drive means 70 continues to urge therear guide shoes 110 in a forward direction such that the cam surface164 on the panel attachment member 150 will slide upwards along themating cam surface 172 of the cam block 170 and urge the rear edge ofthe roof panel 22 upward and pivot the link 132 about the first end 134until the cam block 170 slides completely underneath the lower surfaceof the depending flange portion 156 of the panel attachment member 150is shown in FIG. 5. At this position, the roof panel 22 has been raisedinto registry with the edges of the roof opening 16 of the vehicle 12.

If it is desired to move the roof panel 22 to the vent position, shownin FIG. 6, the drive means 70 will be energized to urge the rear guideshoes 110 in a further forward direction. However, as forward movementof the front edge of the roof panel 22 is prevented, continued forwardmovement of the rear guide shoes 110 will pull the first end of the link134 horizontally forward causing the second end 138 of the link 132 topivot upwards in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 6,until the link 130 has assumed a substantially vertical position, asshown in FIG. 6, which corresponds to the vent position of the roofpanel 22. In this position, the rear edge of the roof panel 22 is raiseda short distance above the stationary roof structure 14 of the vehicle12.

Reversal of the drive means 70 will reverse the above-describedoperation of the lifter apparatus 130 and cause lowering of the roofpanel 22 from the vent to the closed position or from the closed to thelowered position wherein it can be slid aft under the stationary roofstructure 14 of the vehicle 12.

Additional features of the lifter apparatus of the present invention areillustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7. According to another embodiment of thepresent invention, means are provided for preventing premature andinadvertent raising of the roof panel 22 as it is being moved from theopen to the closed position. The means for preventing such prematureraising of the roof panel 22 includes an outwardly extending projection190 formed on an intermediate portion of the link 132. As shown inphantom in FIG. 5, the projection 190 is positioned so as to ridebeneath the upper flange 100 of the guide rail 90. A discontinuity oropening 192 is formed in the upper flange 100 of the guide rail 90 at alocation where the roof panel 22 can begin to be urged upward to theclosed position. In this manner, the projection 190 is held beneath theupper flange 100 until the roof panel 20 can rise to the closedposition. At this point, as the link 130 pivots about the first end, asdescribed above, to raise the roof panel 22 to the closed position, theprojection 190 will pass through the discontinuity 192 in the upperflange 100 of the guide rail 90 so as to permit upward movement of thelink 132 and roof panel 22.

The projection 190 also serves as a means for preventing undesiredromoval of the roof panel 22 from the roof opening 16 when the roofpanel 22 is in the closed position. An L-shaped member or bracket 194 ismounted between the side flange 48 of the panel housing 40 and the guiderail 90 and includes an upwardly extending side wall 196 and an inwardlyextending upper flange 198.

As shown in FIG. 7, the upper flange 198 of the bracket 194 is spacedabove the upper flange 100 of the guide rail 90. Further, the bracket194 is located on the guide rail 90 such that the projection 190 isdisposed beneath the upper flange 198 when the roof panel 22 has beenmoved to the closed position. Thus, it can be seen that the upper flange198 prevents upward movement of the roof panel 22 such as would resultwhen the roof panel 22 is attempted to be removed from the roof opening16 from the exterior of the vehicle 12.

During movement of the roof panel 22 from the closed to the ventposition, the guide shoes 110 will initially translate towards the frontof the vehicle 12 such that the projection 190 will pass from theunderneath the upper flange 198 of the bracket 194 and be free to moveupward as the link 130 pivots to the vent position.

As noted above, the pivotal-sliding roof panel apparatus 10 of thepresent invention is provided with sensor means 82 which operates tosense when the roof panel 22 is in the closed position. The sensor means82, shown in FIG. 2, and in greater detail in FIG. 8; comprises ahousing 210 which is hollow and is formed with an outwardly extendinghollow tube 212 which is adapted to slidably receive the end of one ofthe drive cables, such as drive cable 74. In a rear mounted drive motorconfiguration, the idler cable 80 is connected to the end of the guidecable 74 and acts as an extension of the drive cable 74 for activatingthe sensor means 82.

The end of the idler cable 80, is slidingly receivable within theinterior of the housing 210 and contacts an actuator 214 which ismovably disposed within the housing 210. The actuator 214 is biased to acentral location within the interior of the housing 210 by suitablebiasing means, such as an elongated coil spring 216.

The housing 210 is positioned on the frame 40 such that the end of theidler cable 80 will contact the actuator 214 at the central or neutralposition when the roof panel 22 is in the closed position. An arming pin218 is removably inserted through a bore 220 formed in a side of thehousing 210 to engage and contact the actuator 214 and hold it in thecentral neutral position until the housing 210 is properly positioned onthe frame 40 and the end of the idler cable 80 is in contact with theactuator 214.

When in the central, or neutral position, the actuator 214 engages amovable plunger 222 which is connected to a conventional electricallimit switch 224. Depression of the plunger 222 by the actuator 214causes the output contact 226 of the limit switch 224, FIG. 9, to switchfrom a normally closed position to an open position.

When the roof panel 22 has moved from the closed position to either ofthe vent or open positions, the actuator 214 will be moved by the idlercable 80 or the bias spring 216 away from the central or neutralposition such that the plunger 222 of the limit switch 224 extendsoutward therefrom which results in the output contact 226 of the limitswitch 224 switching back to the normally closed state.

As shown in FIG. 9, the output contact 226 of the limit switch 224 formsa part of a control apparatus 228 which functions to control themovement of the roof panel 22 between the open, closed and ventpositions. The control apparatus 228 is preferably mounted within amodule located within the vehicle 12 and is connected to a suitablesource of electrical power, such as the 12 V power provided by thevehicle battery.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the controlapparatus 228 includes a manually operable switch means 229 having firstand second contacts 230 and 232, respectively, which are connectedbetween the source of electrical power and to the drive motor 72.Contacts 230 and 232 are switchable between two distinct statescorresponding to forward and rearward movement of the roof panel 22 andoperate to connect electrical power in one of two opposite polarities tothe drive motor 72 in order to control the direction of rotation of theoutput shaft of the drive motor 72. Preferably, the switch means 229comprises a double pole double throw switch in which the contacts 230and 232 are ganged together and are normally biased to a neutral orcenter position, as shown in FIG. 9.

The control apparatus 228 further includes a conventional rectifyingbridge circuit 234 which supplies power to the logic elements used inthe control apparatus 228 of the present invention.

Means, responsive to the sensor means 224, are provided fordisconnecting the drive motor 72 from the source of electrical powerwhen the roof panel 22 reaches the closed position from either of thevent or open positions. Preferably, the disconnecting means includes afirst control means 236, such as an electromcchanical relay, which hasits coil connected to the source of electrical power through the firstswitch means 229 and the output contact 226 of the sensor means 224. Thecontrol means or relay coil 236 includes a switchable contact 238 whenthe relay coil 236 is energized upon activation of the first switchmeans 229 and the roof panel 22 is positioned away from the closedposition, the relay coil 236 switches from a first state, shown in FIG.9, to a second state wherein electrical power is applied therethrough tothe drive motor 72 to effect movement of the roof panel 22.

When the roof panel 22 reaches the closed position, the sensor means 214will depress the plunger 216 and cause contact 226 to switch to the openstate, as described above, which breaks the circuit to the relay coil236, thereby de-energizing the relay coil 236 which causes its outputcontact 238 to switch to the first state disconnecting electrical powerfrom the drive motor 72. As shown in FIG. 9, in the first state, therelay contact 238 is connected across the output terminals of the drivemotor 72 so as to short out the drive motor 72 which causes aninstantaneous breaking or stoppage of the drive motor 72 and preventsundesired coasting or additional movement of the roof panel 22 from theclosed position.

When the roof panel assembly 20 is in the fully closed position, thecontact 226 will be in an open state and the contact 238 of the relay236 will be in a position shorting out the drive motor 72 such thatelectrical power is not applied thereto. In order to move the roof panel22 from the closed position to either of the vent or open positions, thecontrol apparatus 228 is provided with means for momentarily connectingelectrical power to the drive motor 72 so as to cause initial movementof the roof panel 22 from the closed position until the sensor 214disengages from the plunger 216 and output contact 226 again switches tothe closed position to maintain the relay coil 236 in an energizedstate.

The means for momentarily connecting electrical power to the drive motor72 includes a switch means 240 comprised of two serially connectedtransistors and a RC timer network comprised of a serially connectedresistor and capacitor. The switch means 240 and RC network 242 areresponsive to the sequential de-activation and re-activation of thefirst switch means 229 such that the switch means 240 switches to aclosed state thereby connecting power to the relay coil 236 which causesits output contact 238 to switch to a state whereby electrical power isconnected to the drive motor 72 to effect initial movement of the roofpanel 22 from the closed position. As the output of the switch means 240is connected in parallel with contact 226, power will be applied to therelay coil 236 despite the contact 226 being in the open state.

As described above, the contact 226 will switch to the closed stateshortly after the roof panel 22 moves from closed position so as tocontinually apply power to the relay coil 236 thereby maintaining it inan energized state such that electrical power is applied through therelay contact 238 to the drive motor 72 to move the roof panel 20 to thevent or open position.

The switch means 240 provides a momentary output which is controlled bythe time required to charge the capacitor in the RC network 242. At thecompletion of this predetermined time period, which is preferably lessthen one second in duration, the switch means 240 will be de-energizedto await the next sequential de-activation and re-activation of theswitch means 229.

Thus, there has been disclosed a new and improved lifter apparatus for amovable roof panel which operates to move the roof panel between open,closed and vent positions in the roof opening of a vehicle. The lifterapparatus is compact in size so as to minimize the amount of interiorspace consumed by the complete roof panel assembly within the interiorof the vehicle. A unique control apparatus has also been disclosed whichcontrols the energization of the roof panel drive means to move the roofpanel between closed, open or vent positions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A control apparatus for a pivotal/sliding roofpanel assembly powered by a reversible electric drive motor for movementof roof panel from a closed position to either of a vent or openposition in an opening formed in the roof of a vehicle comprising:afirst, manually operable switch means adapted to be connected to asource of electrical power and to connect electrical power in first andsecond opposite polarities to the drive motor; sensor means for sensingwhen the roof panel is in the closed position in the roof opening, thesensor means having an output switchable between two distinct stateswhen the roof panel reaches the closed position; means, responsive tothe sensor means, for disconnecting the drive motor from the source ofelectrical power when the roof panel reaches the closed position fromeither of the vent or open positions, the disconnecting means including:first control means, responsive to the first switch means and the sensormeans output, for providing an output which is switchable between afirst state corresponding to the roof panel being in a closed positionand a second state corresponding to the roof panel being away from theclosed position, the first control means output being disposed todisconnect the drive motor from the source of electrical power when theroof panel reaches the closed position; and means, responsive to thesequential de-activation and re-activation of the first switch means,for momentarily bypassing the first control means when the first controlmeans is in the first roof panel closed state and connecting the drivemotor to the source of electrical power to move the roof panel from theclosed position to either of the vent or open positions until the roofpanel has moved from the closed position to switch the first controlmeans to the second state.
 2. The control apparatus of claim 1wherein:the first control means output is connected, when in the firststate, across the drive motor so as to short out power to the drivemotor when the roof panel reaches the closed position.
 3. The controlapparatus of claim 1 wherein:the first control means comprises anelectrical relay having an output contact switchable between closed andopen states.
 4. The control apparatus of claim 1 wherein the firstswitch means includes first and second contacts, each switchable betweentwo distinct states.
 5. A control apparatus for a pivotal/sliding roofpanel assembly powered by a reversible electric drive motor for movementof a roof panel from a closed position to either of a vent or openposition in an opening formed in the roof of a vehicle comprising:afirst, manually operable switch means adapted to be connected to asource of electrical power and to connect electrical power in first andsecond opposite polarities to the drive motor; sensor means for sensingwhen the roof panel is in the closed position in the roof opening, thesensor means having an output switchable between two distinct stateswhen the roof panel reaches the closed position; first control means,responsive to the first switch means and the sensor means output, forproviding an output which is switchable between a first statecorresponding to the roof panel being in a closed position and a secondstate corresponding to the roof panel being away from the closedposition, the first control means output being disposed to disconnectthe drive motor from the source of electrical power when the roof panelreaches the closed position; means, responsive to the sequentialdeactivation and re-activation of the first switch means, formomentarily connecting the drive motor to the source of electrical powerto move the roof panel from the closed position to either of the vent oropen positions, wherein the means for momentarily connecting the drivemotor to the source of electrical power comprises: second switch meanshaving an output switchable between two distinct states; timer means forde-energizing the second switch means a pre-determined period of timeafter the second switch means has been activated; the output of thesecond switch means being connected in parallel with the sensor meansoutput for momentarily energizing the first control means.
 6. A controlapparatus for a pivotal/sliding roof panel assembly powered by areversible electric drive motor for movement of a roof panel from aclosed position to either of a vent or open position in an openingformed in the roof of a vehicle comprising:a first, manually operableswitch means adapted to be connected to a source of electrical power andto connect electrical power in first and second opposite polarities tothe electric drive motor; sensor means for sensing when the roof panelis in the closed position, the sensor means having an output switchablebetween a normally closed state to an open state when the roof panelreaches the closed position; relay means connected to the source ofelectrical power through the first switch means and the sensor meansoutput and energizable thereby, the relay means including a switchablecontact connected between the drive motor and the source of electricalpower to disconnect the drive motor from the source of electrical powerupon de-energization of the relay means when the roof panel reaches theclosed position; means for momentarily connecting electrical power tothe drive motor to move the roof panel from the closed position toeither of the vent or open positions, the momentary connecting meansincluding an output connected in parallel with the sensor means outputand switchable from an open to a closed state when the momentaryconnecting means is energized by the sequential de-activation andre-activation of the first switch means to re-energize the relay meanswhen the roof panel reaches the closed position in order to momentarilyconnect the drive motor to the source of electrical power and move theroof panel from the closed position; and timer means for de-energizingthe momentary connecting means a predetermined period of time after themomentary connecting means is initially energized.